Flexible display with display support

Abstract

A display system includes a continuous flexible display, two main display supports each structurally configured to support a respective portion of the flexible display, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective display portions. The two main display supports are hingeable between a closed configuration for fixing the flexible display in a storage position and an open configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position. In the storage position between the main display supports there is a free space enabling a partial curvature of said display segment without conflicting with the respective main display support. At least one additional display support is configured to support said segment of the flexible display in the storage position and facilitates the curvature of the display segment with a predefined radius which is larger than the critical radius Rcrit for the flexible display.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A display system comprising:
 a continuous flexible display; 
 a support frame comprising two main display supports being hingeable with respect to each other and each structurally configured to support a respective portion of the flexible display, a segment of the flexible display being located between the said respective display portions, wherein the two main display supports are hingeable between a closed configuration for fixing the flexible display in a storage position and an open configuration for fixing the flexible display in an open position, and wherein in the storage position of the flexible display between the main display supports there is a free space enabling a partial curvature of said display segment without conflicting with the respective main display support; and 
 at least one additional display support arranged to physically contact and support said segment of the flexible display in the storage position of the flexible display, and to physically contact said segment of the flexible display in the open position of the flexible display; 
 wherein the two main display supports are hinged to the additional display support, 
 wherein, in the storage position of the flexible display, the additional display support facilitates the curvature of the display segment with a predefined curvature having a radius which over the area of the curvature is larger than the critical radius for the flexible display. 
 
     
     
       2. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position of the flexible display, the additional display support facilitates the curvature of the display segment in a combination of circular arches. 
     
     
       3. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position of the flexible display, the additional display support facilitates a curvature of the unsupported display segment with a radius along the display contour which is above, but close to the critical value. 
     
     
       4. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional display support has a substantially flat support surface. 
     
     
       5. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additional display support comprises a curved support surface. 
     
     
       6. The display system of  claim 5 , wherein the support surface has a curvature with a radius which approaches or equals the predefined radius of the display segment. 
     
     
       7. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position said display segment is supported by two mutually spaced additional display supports being symmetrically arranged with respect to the curvature of the display segment. 
     
     
       8. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein the additional display support is located both in the open position and storage position of the display at the backside of the display segment, supporting in the open position the display segment as a touch support, and facilitating in the storage position of the display the curvature of the display segment with a predefined curvature. 
     
     
       9. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position of the display the additional display support supports over the whole width of the display segment. 
     
     
       10. The display system of  claim 1 , wherein in the storage position of the display the additional display support supports over part of the width of the display segment.